tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post964103323987941425..comments2024-03-28T23:38:22.511-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: The Calm Before the StormMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-21885836355923363242009-10-06T11:33:35.884-07:002009-10-06T11:33:35.884-07:00SAP question - will the rules for early enrollment...SAP question - will the rules for early enrollment change at all? My younger son's birthday is Sept 7th and we may want to apply for early enrollment. Right now it seems that he would basically get whatever empty seat there is. In our area (south end of North cluster) it looks like ALL the elem schools had waitlists which means he would have to go out of cluster. Would this be that same in the new SAP?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07809641417386562445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27381859859172308582009-10-06T11:31:25.502-07:002009-10-06T11:31:25.502-07:00The only day I walk my child to school is Mondays ...The only day I walk my child to school is Mondays - that is my day off from work. The other 4 days he goes to before/after school care and is bussed from there to Daniel Bagley. We live .8 miles from Bagley and have to cross Aurora. Unless some miracle happens and they build a pedestrian bridge - I would not let my son cross Aurora for many years. He is 5 now. <br /><br />It generally takes about 20-30 minutes to walk to school. We actually prefer to bike - that takes about 15 minutes.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07809641417386562445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-63116895237719946622009-10-05T22:26:10.299-07:002009-10-05T22:26:10.299-07:00I would be very surprised to see the Northgate nei...I would be very surprised to see the Northgate neighborhood kids assigned into the Eckstein cluster: I expect them to be schlepped over to Whitman (for one thing, it's a straight shot on the route 75 bus).<br /><br />Given the locations of the three north end MS, and leaving McClure aside for the time being, it's clear that Eckstein will have to ray out to the north and northeast and a little to the northwest, while Hamilton will pick up everyone who's not too far from the Ship Canal, and Whitman gets everyone else. Isn't that what everyone expects?<br /><br />As for h20girl, you might also look at buses that go up 15th NW and then transfer to the 358 at Aurora and Northgate, which is incrementally less sleazy than Aurora and 85th (I live east of Aurora off 100th, so I know the neighborhood). And isn't there a metro bus that shoots up 3rd Ave NW? Your child could get off at 3rd NW and NW 130th and walk about 3/4 mile from there to Ingraham.Josh Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17242600011474990770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27468478471107539522009-10-05T22:26:03.550-07:002009-10-05T22:26:03.550-07:00Stu, I very much appreciate the different points o...Stu, I very much appreciate the different points of view on this blog and don't in the least mind strongly stated and passionate opinions.<br /><br />Once comments get personal in a negative way, the larger message is lost, I think.SE Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537722194376827564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-17685617729226084002009-10-05T22:05:18.577-07:002009-10-05T22:05:18.577-07:00SE Mom,
Actually, although I think it is getting ...SE Mom,<br /><br />Actually, although I think it is getting a bit personal, I think it is on topic. Sahila has some very specific ideas about education, some of which I agree with and some I don't. However, I feel that trying to change everything wrong with the world is as equally ineffective as watching from the sidelines. Sahila accuses us of not being involved but everyone of us, just by being here, is trying to come up with that magic bullet, that one idea, that will find it's way into the thought processes of this board and superintendent.<br /><br />Over the years I've disagreed with board decisions and various superintendents. However, never before have I felt that so many in power cared less about the families in this district. The blatant disregard for planning ahead, or measuring the effects of their actions, or using real numbers, or demanding accountability, and the unwillingness or inability to remove the politics from their decision making processes, has stunned me.<br /><br />I might disagree with many of the voices here on this blog but I truly appreciate their efforts at being heard.<br /><br />stuStuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11769983958729170219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65122919284489095072009-10-05T21:20:04.974-07:002009-10-05T21:20:04.974-07:00Geez..these replies are getting personal...stay on...Geez..these replies are getting personal...stay on the topic at hand, please.SE Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537722194376827564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-30679850919185916842009-10-05T21:03:37.304-07:002009-10-05T21:03:37.304-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.adhochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12912714470992480644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31460197893370158852009-10-05T20:56:39.495-07:002009-10-05T20:56:39.495-07:00Lake City Parent do you honestly believe that Ecks...Lake City Parent do you honestly believe that Eckstein will not change at all with the new boundaries and new draw? Honestly? <br /><br />Do you really think that you could replace the Laurelhurst, View Ridge, Wedgewood, Bryant, Ravenna, U district families with Lake City, Olympic Hills, Cedar Park, and Northgate, and have the same school with the same outcomes? <br /><br />I know many people that are low income or middle class that provide very well for their kids. I live in Lake City too, and we are lower middle class, and we provide all of the "extras" for our kids too. We value education, and support them in their endeavors.<br /><br />But I also see the other side of Lake City. Lake City has the highest crime rate north of the ship canal. There are pockets of extreme poverty. There are projects that police won't go to a call to without backup. There are many mixed income apartments. And drug dealers. There are many families for whom English is not their first language. You'd be hard pressed to find any of the above anywhere in Laurelhurst, or Bryant or View Ridge. Just sayin...adhochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12912714470992480644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-81128597308304739582009-10-05T20:45:56.399-07:002009-10-05T20:45:56.399-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.adhochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12912714470992480644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-48622071193427084392009-10-05T20:45:17.759-07:002009-10-05T20:45:17.759-07:00adhoc said...
Eckstein will no longer draw from t...adhoc said...<br /><br />Eckstein will no longer draw from the affluent neighborhoods of Laurelhurst, Ravenna, View Ridge, Bryant, U district. It will now likely draw from the lower middle class neighborhoods of Lake City, Olympic Hills, Cedar Park, Northgate, and Meadowbrook. With the shift in demographics the school will surely change. FRE rates will go up, test scores will go down. If the demand is not there the advanced math, and Spectrum might dwindle away. Will Eckstein remain a desirable school?<br /><br /><br />We live in Lake City and are solidly middle class. Our daughters don't qualify for reduced meals. They're both in Spectrum and doing very well. They have belonged to their school chess teams and have attended after school art and drama classes. We are zoo and Pacific Science members. They have visited historic sites and museums. I volunteer in both classes and the library. Quality education and challenging curriculum are very important to us, despite not being affluent. We sacrifice in other areas to provide these opportunities for our children. Please do not generalize.LakeCityParenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01744108092496760788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-19614224398510063662009-10-05T20:14:43.187-07:002009-10-05T20:14:43.187-07:00To 6p00e54ecc9eb48833...
I started here less tha...To 6p00e54ecc9eb48833... <br /><br />I started here less than a year ago saying all of the things you've just said, and we're no closer to any of that... no one here wants to look at the bigger picture and say its unacceptable... they complain here and then accept what's happening in the district... sheep to the slaughter, bleating, bleating, as they walk along the path made for them, and obediently putting their heads in the stocks to be executed.... no-one here seems to want to put their money where their mouth is and DO something... <br /><br />Cant believe how much we are letting the Superintendent get away with, cos we wont challenge the Board whose job it is to rein her in, wont get it together, wont make noise (except in whispering amongst ourselves, cos its not nice to be loud and blunt - or raucous and crass as some would call it)...<br /><br />Melissa's thread about flexing parent muscle...<br /><br />What would happen if people said 'enough is enough' and kept their kids home from school until something changed?<br /><br />You know what - kids are not going to miss out getting into college if they miss a few days of school...and in the process, they'll learn some valuable lessons about governance, responsibility for the world we co-create, citizenship and engagement...<br /><br />Maybe people will get a rude awakening with the unveiling of this plan....maybe that'll be the torch that lights the fire....maybe then they'll be willing to get off their arses and DO something to say 'no more'... sure hope so....<br /><br />IRONY PLUS.... WV IS VOTING!Sahilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610179287237833742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40767384608436680312009-10-05T19:56:50.213-07:002009-10-05T19:56:50.213-07:00The idea that kids need to walk excessive distance...The idea that kids need to walk excessive distances or dangerous routes to save money is just another example of the preposterous reduced expectations we have for government these days. How about we demand quality public schools with a full complement of academic classes and arts offerings, reasonable class sizes, programs designed to serve all different abilities and learning styles, and appropriate support services (including transportation, nurses, etc.)? And demand an appropriately graduated progressive income tax to pay for it? And demand a school board that will throw out on her can any superintendent who won't be an advocate for the kind of education our kids need and deserve? When we think something is really important in this country, we find the money and the political will to do it (see prisons, corporate bailouts, Iraq). I guess our kids just don't rate that highly on our priority list.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-21450025002807611982009-10-05T19:43:43.600-07:002009-10-05T19:43:43.600-07:00Yes, Sahila. Yes. We must change everything and fi...Yes, Sahila. Yes. We must change everything and fix everything but here, at least for the moment, we're trying to work on one part, the education part.<br /><br />You say we have to start somewhere; this is where I start. I choose to work to fix the educational system; I choose to believe that, with a solid education, fewer people will take to the streets; I choose to believe that many of your other changes come with a better educated populace; I choose to build community around community schools<br /><br />The first step is better schools not sending my 10-year-old to a crappy neighborhood to prove a point. Our family does take a walk around the neighborhood each night. That doesn't mean we're stupid enough to walk where SPS would like our son to walk.<br /><br />stuStuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11769983958729170219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-14543891616799848682009-10-05T19:16:23.504-07:002009-10-05T19:16:23.504-07:00Change the cityscape... dont run away and hide in ...Change the cityscape... dont run away and hide in our houses.... reclaim our streets.... make it uncomfortable for the drug dealers and prostitutes and gangs to do their thing... make them leave - they dont want to be observed doing what they do - if enough of us get back outside, they'll leave...<br /><br />Walk the streets, frequent the parks, go out after dinner for a walk around the block...<br /><br />Get more community policing - minus the guns the police carry. Get the council and police to enforce traffic laws; put in physical speed-reducing measures; having people out en masse will automatically reduce traffic speed... <br /><br />Build community, so that everyone knows everyone else and has a vested interest in keeping the streets safe... get-togethers, festivals, block parties, movie nights, beautiful building competitions, holiday lights.... lots of cheap, easy ways to build community and push the undesirable elements out of our cities.... <br /><br />Leave them nowhere to go but the industrial areas....<br /><br />If we all hide behind our fences and curtained windows, they've won... we're their prisoners and our kids are cheated out of a full life....<br /><br />Next thing you'll say is that it will take years (and you're not willing to risk you child's safety to do this).... maybe it will take years, but when would you like to start, and if you dont, who will? The sooner we start, the sooner the streets will belong to all of us again and this problem will be solved....Sahilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610179287237833742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77146621408842961142009-10-05T18:06:18.724-07:002009-10-05T18:06:18.724-07:00Sahila, I am not sure why an article suggesting th...Sahila, I am not sure why an article suggesting that kids benefit from climbing trees and playing in the rain should persuade me to let my small children cross busy streets where I know from personal experience with those streets that the drivers do not slow down for kids despite laws directing them to, or why older kids should be expected under cover of darkness to navigate the thicket of drug dealers that congregate at some major school intersections (23rd and Cherry, for example).djhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01720927162286657378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-21694642962985375112009-10-05T16:48:07.420-07:002009-10-05T16:48:07.420-07:00http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/news/2928...http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/news/2928636/A-really-wild-way-to-grow-kids<br /><br />for those of us who think that we need to provide more challenge for our kids, including maybe, having them learn how to deal with their (urban) environment...Sahilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610179287237833742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-28027538382406058152009-10-05T15:05:55.584-07:002009-10-05T15:05:55.584-07:00"It is actually easier to get to Hale and Nov..."It is actually easier to get to Hale and Nova from my house (only one bus route) than it is to get to Ingraham."<br /><br />You can probably add Garfield to that list. Incidentally, it should be possible to work out a route to Ingraham with a transfer at the Northgate Transit Center rather than on Aurora. Not that it's a terrifically convenient route even so, but a bit safer.<br /><br />Helen Schinskehschinskehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10316478950862562594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-33075683963158796812009-10-05T14:27:07.124-07:002009-10-05T14:27:07.124-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.SPS momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07868844486562389924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57653499905584602232009-10-05T14:26:17.489-07:002009-10-05T14:26:17.489-07:00I agree with North Seattle Mom that savings on tra...I agree with North Seattle Mom that savings on transportation played significantly in last year's closures. While the transportation savings might be minimal as a result of the Lowell split, I suspect that Team Goodloe-Johnson intends to split the program futher (if she sticks around long enough) and expects less pushback now that the initial split is complete.BLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18171184976280483050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-14573118298661520712009-10-05T13:53:51.537-07:002009-10-05T13:53:51.537-07:00I live near NW 83rd St. I am assuming that my chi...I live near NW 83rd St. I am assuming that my child will be assigned to Ingraham for high school. Not pleased about it, but not feeling like anything I do will change it, and it was nice to read good things about the band and IB programs here the other day (thank you Ingraham Dad). So today I tried to figure out how she'd get there on Metro. It involves two bus routes, with a 20 minute layover on 85th & Aurora at 7:20 am. I have personally seen prostitutes still "working" along Aurora at that time. Ingraham is 3.86 miles from my house. Ballard High is 1.26 miles, and Roosevelt, to my surprise, is only 3.29 miles. It is actually easier to get to Hale and Nova from my house (only one bus route) than it is to get to Ingraham. It's rather depressing.h2o girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512408535354009657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15246567922382388422009-10-05T13:44:40.482-07:002009-10-05T13:44:40.482-07:00I do hope that walk boundaries take terrain into a...I do hope that walk boundaries take terrain into account. We're just barely in the Madrona walk boundary at .9 miles (the boundary is 2 blocks from us in 2 different directions). The school is up a steep hill, steep enough that it wouldn't be safe for young child to bike on it. I can walk there in 25 minutes or so, a little less than 20 minutes coming back. I tried it with my daughter once, and it took over an hour. There is no way I can spare 45-120 minutes every morning for the round trip to school. If we were assigned to walk to Madrona (assuming the school had an acceptable program), it wouldn't end up being good for the environment at all. We'd drive, and then, once in the car, I'd drive to the eastside for work, rather than taking metro. (the crazy-early start time doesn't help either).<br /><br />Perhaps little kids (k-2) should have smaller walk zones? I don't think more than about .5 miles is realistic. That's a 20 minute round-trip for the parent. 3-5 might be able to walk by themselves, in which case, expecting them to walk a mile (20 minutes) is reasonable. <br /><br />I also don't think it's reasonable for my 5 year old to be expected to cross both MLK and Union. Why are these arterials ok, but 23rd isn't? How do they decide which arterials are ok?<br /><br />I live a few blocks from a closed school (MLK). I wonder if there are similar pockets near other closed schools where there are no walkable options for elementary?<br /><br />Both Washington and Garfield are reasonable biking distances and on no-transfer metro routes. I wouldn't be surprised if metro were faster to Washington than a yellow bus.TechyMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04650916001250022778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44841109558768784812009-10-05T11:25:24.672-07:002009-10-05T11:25:24.672-07:00Just a minor nit to pick; reader writes:
K-8'...Just a minor nit to pick; reader writes: <br /><br /><i>K-8's get [Title I] because they have elementaries; AS1, Madrona, Broadview Thomson.</i><br /><br />Can't speak for Madrona or B-T, but AS1 does not receive Title I funding. We did, for one year, but the following year the FRE threshold was raised and, presto, we were no longer "poor" enough.Josh Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17242600011474990770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-37082832123051087572009-10-05T11:24:36.413-07:002009-10-05T11:24:36.413-07:00north seattle mom said...
The majority of the clos...north seattle mom said...<br /><i>The majority of the closures and relocations last year was driven by transportation costs. <br /><br />All City Draw Schools<br />AAA - closed<br />Summit - closed<br />AS1 - proposed closure and settled on two cluster draw.<br />APP - split in half so now 3 or 4 cluster draw areas.</i><br /><br />While this may have been one of the many changing rationales offered by the Board & Supt for these closures and splits, it doesn't entirely add up.<br /><br />The reason the Cooper kids got evicted from their building, according to Michael DeBell, was simply (and callously) because "Pathfinder needed a better building." No mention of transportation cost savings.<br /><br />In fact the Supt asked the Board to change policy in order to provide out of cluster transportation for the displaced Cooper students to other schools. <br />[see: http://www.seattleschools.org/area/board/08-09agendas/010709agenda/finalrecommendation2.pdf]<br />So that would ADD to transportation costs, not save money. <br /><br />The OPPOSITE is true for the TT Minor kids whose Central District school was closed. They were assigned to Lowell in Cap. Hill -- but offered no transportation. But only about 55 TT Minor kids chose Lowell this year--in part bcause there was no transportation offered--so that doesn't seem like a whole lot of savings. (Morever, it was an unconscionable thing for the Supt and Board to do.)<br /><br />Speaking of which, yes, the closing of Summit potentially cut transportation costs -- as well as cut off hundreds of kids from their school community. I haven't seen the numbers on where all the Summit kids ended up this year, but they probably are still taking buses somewhere, so it's not clear how much of a savings closing Summit was.<br /><br />So yes, an argument could be made that in some cases by closing some kids' schools and cutting off transportation for them the District saved some money on transportation costs. Strikes me as an pretty inequitable, immoral mathematical calculation.<br /><br />As for APP, the elementary split moved half of the kids only 3 miles south of where they were. But the north-end APP kids still have quite a commute to Lowell which is in Capital Hill. So aside from those three miles, I doubt the move to Thurgood Marshall saves much in transportation costs.<br /><br />What's more, the District receives extra (state or federal?) funding for transportation for Special Ed and APP kids, and in fact runs at a surplus. Therefore the APP program at Lowell was NOT a financial burden on the District transportation-wise, but in fact the opposite. So that is not a plausible reason for the split at the elementary level at least.<br /><br />The middle school APP split is another matter. Logically it should be cheaper to transport north-end APP kids to Hamilton which is in Wallingford, rather than down to Washington. <br /><br />The same may be true for SBOC -- Meany is apparently closer to home for many of the students. But that still doesn't excuse the District for repeatedly misappropriating SBOC's funds and breakings its promise to create a new school for these kids. (That's been the real SBOC 'cost savings' for the District -- repeatedly reneging on financial promises to these kids.)<br /><br />The other schools that were closed or targeted -- AS1, AAA, Summit -- as well as APP, have something else in common: they are/were alternative, nontraditional schools, which this Superintendent and Board seem to be hellbent on destroying. Why? Perhaps in a quest to standardize everything into "one size fits all" oblivion.<br /><br />Another theory is, they are purposely damaging some of the best and alternative choices in our School District so parents will ultimately cry 'Uncle!' and beg for more choices -- and will be offered charters.<br /><br />Apparently the District may be gunning for TOPS next.....gavrochehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11336376340965305696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61275532270785641452009-10-05T11:01:06.933-07:002009-10-05T11:01:06.933-07:00North Seattle Mom, the elementary APP split doesn&...North Seattle Mom, the elementary APP split doesn't make sense on your reasoning at the elementary level, because the two elementary sites are still both in the central cluster, so pretty much everyone who had to be transported before still has to be transported, and a similar distance (the exception is the handful of kids in the TM walk zone). The APP middle school split more closely reflects that rationale.djhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01720927162286657378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-76239003706951853242009-10-05T07:28:58.068-07:002009-10-05T07:28:58.068-07:00"Didn't the board vote last June, in an a..."Didn't the board vote last June, in an amendment by Sherry Carr, to commit to Jane Addams as a K-8 through the 2012-2013 school year. And wasn't it determined, at that time, that it would be an option school only with no mandatory assignments"<br /><br />Yes, Stu the board did vote in June to commit to JA as a K-8 through 2012, but just as they voted to commit to JA through 2012, they could vote again to re-purpose the building if need be. But, even if they remain committed through 2012 that's only 2 1/2 years from now. It's a 9 year program, so 2.5 years doesn't make many people feel very secure or eager to choose it.<br /><br />And as far as voting to make JA an option school, I don't think that was part of that June amendment that Sherry Carr put forward, but even if it was that happened in June, long after open enrollment, which happened in March. Families were already assigned to JA at the time of the vote, I know, because we were one of those families.<br /><br />We live across the street from JA and personally know many elementary families who got mandatory assignment there this year.<br /><br />At one of the board meetings earlier this year staff did a power point presentation that showed out of all the families assigned to JA about 20% of the elementary families received mandatory assignment, about 15% chose it as their 2nd or 3rd choice, and about 25% listed it as their 4th,5th, 6th or 7th or lower choice school. <br /><br />The new SAP shows JA as an option school, so hopefully there won't be mandatory assignments there this coming school year. I have no idea how the district will solve the NE capacity crunch without mandatory assignment to JA or any new buildings open and online this year??? I am very anxious to see what happens.....<br /><br />Here is a pdf that shows that the district policy on allowing mandatory assignments to JA for elementary this year.<br /><br />http://www.seattleschools.org/area/newassign/Board_April_29.pdfadhochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12912714470992480644noreply@blogger.com